Why classics Little People were retired in 1984 and lost their "pin shape".

[@shoestringscifi]

When I was a kid, I had my own Mister Rogers' "Neighborhood of Make-believe." The Little People Castle was King Friday XIII's castle. The Tree Tots Pop-Up Treehouse was X and Henrietta's tree. An empty, cylindrical salt container was the Museum-Go-Round. The Fisher-Price Musical Clock was Daniel Striped Tiger's clock. The Fisher-Price Circus Train's caboose was the trolley.

[@spectorcreative1872]

Oh that is awesome. I was such a Mr. Rogers kid

[@shockwave75]

I have to show this video to my wife, she LOVES the Little People, and collects them too. She's got pretty much all the playsets you showed. And we let our son play with them when he was about 3, and he loved them too! In fact he kept playing with them after he had "aged out" of them, like most of us probably did when we were kids too.

[@spectorcreative1872]

Little People was one of the greatest toy lines of all time and it had its own play pattern! Amazing no one has brought it back...

[@manicmike3952]

Wow what a flashback, I could have sworn that these where still in full use. Some adults want kids to grow up too fast and I despise that. Thanks

[@spectorcreative1872]

Glad you enjoyed it. I do miss the pin shape a ton and my daughter is glad I still have mine from when I was a kid!

[@PrivateEye10]

You know, one of the things I love about this channel is that it crushes the "belief" that kids these days don't play with toys anymore... Its amazing learning about the psychology of children with toys. I have a little niece that loves her toys so much and its just adorable to see her holding to them all the time. I am glad that despite times changing, some things just stay the same... Kids will always need toys in my opinion, thats whats so great about you lessons...

[@spectorcreative1872]

Thank you so much for your wonderful comment. And please do pass this video along to others who would enjoy the insights as well. Toys were built better and more playable years ago. We need to bring that back

[@KittyKatz547]

I just discovered your channel and I am in love. Thank you for making in-depth videos about toy history! Its so informative and interesting and I am well on my way to watching many more of your videos haha. This style of Little People are those which my parents would have played with. I was lucky enough that at my grandparents house, we had the old 1970s Sesame Street playset with many of the characters like Big Bird, Mr. Hooper etc, and I remember my parents sharing their memories of playing with them to my sister and I. I always loved playing with this set even in the early 2000s when we of course had the newer line of Little People at our house growing up. I will absolutely be forwarding this to my Mom & Dad because I think they would enjoy your video as well. I think the Pin Mates concept is fantastic, and that this style of play could see a resurgence! Simplicity is often the more successful, and the pin shape can be applied to so many brands and intellectual properties that I think it could really take off both through a nostalgia factor for parents and just being a great toy in general. Great video, great channel! You have gained a new subscriber :)

[@spectorcreative1872]

Well welcome on board! I am such a huge fan of the old Little People. It had such a great unique play pattern. Feel free to share videos you like with others on social media. It helps the channel a ton!

[@jeffdavis6657]

I had the barn, which you should have mentioned the "Moo" when you opened the door and a Construction Yard. Lots of fun memories playing. The sets became used for other stuff as I grew up.

[@spectorcreative1872]

That is cool. Repurposing toys for other lines is a great way to play. Like Andy in Toy Story.

[@omshiva3599]

Thanks, Scott for sharing your knowledge and experiences about the toy industry. It seems very sad to see how pseudo-science and poor parenting can completely undermine a hobby and a form of play. Even though all these actions were taken with the best of intentions, it seems that many children end up being poorer for it because so much excessive accountability is placed on the toy companies. It would be better if society recognized that there is a shared responsibility between the family and the various industries they interact with to ensure the best interests of the child.

[@spectorcreative1872]

Parent your child. I want that on a bumper sticker. Thanks for the kind words and reposts of the video are always appreciated.

[@shoestringscifi]

Thanks for this video. My wife and I loved these toys when we were kids, and our daughter loved playing with the old ones, too. Fisher-Price Little People and Adventure Pekple toys were fun and tough.

[@spectorcreative1872]

Glad you enjoyed. These toys are tied to so many happy memories. Reposts of the video are most appreciated!

[@shoestringscifi]

@@spectorcreative1872 I frequently repost your videos. :)

[@rjholman8034]

Well, I didn't know they had updated them or this line was still going. I grew up with the parking garage and the airport. The airport was so solid, it lasted for years and years. Thanks for doing this video, it had heaps of info that I never knew about. Love watching your videos, please keep them coming. Thank you.

[@spectorcreative1872]

So glad you enjoyed it and grateful for the kind comment. Do repost and share with anyone you know who might also enjoy!

[@jdogg0316]

OMG! I totally had the Woodseys playsets- the hangar, log cabin and wood store! I just looked them up on Ebay and might have to buy them just for nostalgia! :)

[@spectorcreative1872]

These old playsets were built to last. So worth getting!

[@nerdrock8087]

I had that castle, and I think that to this very day, I love castles because of it. Well....that, and Castle Grayskull. ;-)

[@spectorcreative1872]

It is an amazing castle, even if it is not green with a skull face

[@robearnest7613]

holy crap, I totally forgot I had these till I saw this video! Thanks for the nostalgic trip to the toddler ages of memory lane Scott!👍

[@spectorcreative1872]

You are so welcome! Exactly why I made this video. Please do share it too if you would like!

[@waynetroy953]

I am a toy seller and a toy collector I love the vintage little people they are so cute

[@MrDrokkul]

I had the castle when I was a kid. It became the battleground for so many different action figure battles once I aged out of Little People play. The play value of that set was amazing! I almost teared up when I saw it on the screen.

[@spectorcreative1872]

Toy memories are the best memories!

[@mcdiscace]

I love your content, and the Little People form of pin play. That book, and the 1984 media literally killed the old school LP. They could have put uranium toy kit on the cover and kids would still be playing with LP.. I had the idea of customizing LP 15 years ago. Didn’t do anything with that thought. Thank you for helping make the wood LP, and bringing the old school pin play back. 2021 idea, make wood LP vehicles and playsets. Take that idea and run with it. Stay positive and love your life. ✌️

[@spectorcreative1872]

Yes that book killed such a great toy line

[@machineman6498]

@ Mac Disc Ace : make some customs anyway. Craft stores have wood beads just about the right size. I have some art-toy ones of a Micronugget and Jaws. Give it a try.

[@amandaandherstuffedanimals1308]

Well, I think it is interesting to see a little people‘s past and how to size for kids to play toys like that. I definitely think that little people has more factors than just those things I remember growing up with the newer ones and I could see their potential when I had the sets they still had trap doors, and plus they had the factor where you could stick them anywhere with the hole underneath you can put them anywhere in your set of playsets for the same time. These are still special toys that could still work today.

[@saddad6601]

As a responsible adult of 45 I do find the classic pin shaped little people far easier to swallow whole, than I do the revised versions.

[@spectorcreative1872]

They go great with mashed potatoes and a side of green beans.

[@jetman80pops]

I was born in 75 and remember playing with Little People. My parents were smart enough to wait till I was like 5 before I got them. Outgrew them before 84 and didn't think of them till my oldest was born. I was kind of shocked by the change. It was very different to play with them with my daughter. Side note didn't know The Office set was a thing. I'll have to get one.

[@spectorcreative1872]

Yup. That Office and Kiss sets are for real real.

[@TuxKamen]

I had the Little People house boat that came with a couple of the classic figures (the blonde woman I for some reason called "Mama with a Ponytail" and, I believe, the dog), they were part of my bathtime play. My friends had the barn that mooed when you opened the door (can't remember if that was Little People, but it was Fisher Price). I always thought the newer versions looked like they promoted childhood obesity, but that just my opinion

[@spectorcreative1872]

Oh I agree. The new ones are way chubby

[@mikesmith2718]

Good information I never knew that about little people thanks

[@spectorcreative1872]

Glad you enjoyed. Reposting of the video is most appreciated.

[@DaddyOfTheSugarVariety]

I had a bunch of the Little People playsets as a kid. My favorite was the 123 Sesame Street/Hooper's Store set! I'm kinda sad I wasn't able to keep them over the years. I was also a huge Lego fan & still am to this day! They just announced a Sesame Street Lego set to be released in November, so I'm definitely going to pick that up! :D

[@spectorcreative1872]

Yeah those Lego sets coming out look awesome!

[@cinnamonbun1379]

When I was a little kid, I was lucky enough to be the right age for these when they put out the 50th anniversary line, which I feel is the perfect way to make Little People safer while still allowing for pin play. They were bigger, but still had the pin shape and I believe they were hard plastic. I remember thinking those were way cool (and I blame them for my love of vintage toys).

[@spectorcreative1872]

Everyone blames someone~!

[@LeatherRebel75]

The original little people were my favorite toys when I was a little kid, before I moved up to Star Wars and Masters of the Universe and others.

[@spectorcreative1872]

Mine too and in the same order

[@SimbasGuardWT]

Wow that is really interesting. I had the Sesame Street character and playset. I also had the holiday inn and a treehouses. I must have been 4 years old at the youngest.

[@spectorcreative1872]

Really great memories right?

[@SimbasGuardWT]

@@spectorcreative1872 very much so. I had fun.

[@MrDrokkul]

I wonder if the "i" in the newer version of the Little People logo was meant to be a homage to what the original little people looked like. The way it sits on the "L" with its little round dot sure makes me think of them! Great video!

[@spectorcreative1872]

It could be! Homages to older versions of toys happen all the time. Great thought.

[@Kara_Kay_Eschel]

I remember having these in the mid to late 80's. Not sure if they was bought new or second hand.

[@spectorcreative1872]

You can still get them second hand now. These toys were made to last

[@machineman6498]

Easily the most influential toys in my family. Car guy garage, castle for the soldier, farm for the equestrian. My kids had the 2000 version and it was “OK”. Good figures but bad play sets. The “plug in” feature was lost. If there is enough material and it hasn’t already been done - Was there a story about the guy who put out the dangerous Christmas toys list every year actually had his own competing toys?

[@spectorcreative1872]

I'll need to look into that!

[@Tjrush-rm4jj]

I sometimes get these confused with Adveture People, another really nice toy line also from Fisher Price, I think... These were great toys! I had a little ferris wheel set that was a hand-me down from my brother.

[@spectorcreative1872]

They just don't make toys like they used to!

[@NikkiDeJonge]

I thought they checked Little People, cause in the 90s I thought people realized it was considered a "chocking hazard"..because they were smaller in the 70s and 80.. :)😊❤

[@TheBoglin]

They also made a sort of inflated/chunky version of the standard pin style Little People in 1990-91. After that they started to make them more human and less pin designed. I grabbed a few of those chubbier ones for my little guy a few years ago and he loved them. I defintely agree there is something to that shape and simpler design that children like.

[@spectorcreative1872]

The original form factor just had so much more play value due to the shape

[@TheBoglin]

@@spectorcreative1872 100% correct. They didn't stay in that form for what, 20-30 years for nothing. It really was a shame some bad parent's ruined it for other kids. I know Basic Fun was supposed to re-release the original style Weebles in 2019 just at a larger size but it never happened. I wonder what happened. 🤔

[@zombie10q]

I loved the original little people as a kid, the playsets were always full of detail and playability. The new ones I find are lacking that. What used to be full graphical walls of artwork is now a monotone molded single color of plastic. My kid still plays but he will never know.... With that said, I DO have a question that maybe you have insight on. Why are the age recommendations on mattel stuff generally higher than other companies recommendations. For example motu origins is 6+ where as hasbro's 6" gi joe line is 4+ the gi joe line has clearly smaller parts and arguably a more mature theme. Is mattel's lawyers just that much more precautious??

[@spectorcreative1872]

Pretty much. People sue toy companies a lot over "interesting" things.

[@Siansonea]

The "pin play" figures have potential, but I liked the hourglass shape of the adult female figures of the original Little People as a kid, and I liked the plastic molded hair on all the figures. The blonde 'mom' and the Sesame Street Susan figures were my favorites as a kid.

[@spectorcreative1872]

The Hourglass figure worked too. As long as they went down slides and passages it worked!

[@Siansonea]

@@spectorcreative1872 so how come the newer Little People-inspired toys didn't incorporate the hourglass shape?

[@rc5989]

Had the barn. The door made a “mooo” sound.

[@spectorcreative1872]

Best non battery powered feature ever!

[@MrColuber]

I think I may have played with these in pre-k.

[@spectorcreative1872]

Very likely! They were built to last

[@victorcastle5757]

The ironic thing is that, (at least part of) the reason they were chosen for the cover is probably the same as why they were popular: aesthetic appeal.

[@spectorcreative1872]

Exactly! It is insane the domino effect.

[@OxBigly2010]

What about the 2nd form of the "pin shape"?

[@spectorcreative1872]

2nd Pin Shape? Do you mean the 50's vs 70's?

[@OxBigly2010]

@@spectorcreative1872 I think it was still in use in the 80s

[@proudhug]

With the advent of age grades and the passage of decades, is there any reason they couldn't bring these back? Is there still a stigma among those who greenlight these things?

[@spectorcreative1872]

As far as I know, no. But they may be so far down the path that going back would hurt PR.

[@Thunderwing88]

I remember the castle and the barn, I definitely don’t remember the dragon. Maybe it came from a yard/garage sale.

[@spectorcreative1872]

Oh the dragon definitely came with the castle. Luckily you can buy one loose on ebay!

[@Jake_E57]

Saying that the new style of figures don't play like the old ones is very limiting and kind of over looking the reality of it. While the playsets had to be redesigned, I would say the play pattern didn't disappear. I can safely say with the observation of my own son playing with the new style little people that the "pin play" still functions a lot like it used to. The figures still function mostly as they did before, the legs are smaller and form that pin shape, things just needed to be widened to accommodate arms and such design upgrades. I also thought less of the licensed characters, especially super heroes, to be collectors items and more for introducing such brands to kids.

[@spectorcreative1872]

Yeah but try sending the new figures down a trap door or a ramp. It doesn't work anymore. ;-P

[@Jake_E57]

@@spectorcreative1872 that's more down to design, the new figures work the same with the new playsets, they just not as compact now.

[@QuintMarvel]

It looks like Pin Play for collectors is back with Funko's new Seinfeld line.

[@spectorcreative1872]

I"ll need to check that out!

[@johnfoltz8183]

Actually the original little people existed until 1991 when a chunkier version replaced them

[@NikkiDeJonge]

I would like to add: back in the 80s..and, 70s..SOMETIMES kids would put things in their mouths😮-even younger kids..still do silly things, even when parents.. babysitter, babies..kids do put things in their mouth... :)

[@stanleyteriaca2184]

At least we are not talking about Weebles.

[@spectorcreative1872]

Not yet...

[@stanleyteriaca2184]

@@spectorcreative1872 They shape a toy like an egg. What did they expect?

[@leeprice2849]

Never should have changed the Little People

[@spectorcreative1872]

I agree. It is a shame because now a generation has never known the joy of playing with them.

[@juanfelixsoto]

Come on, man. Tell the truth. Those little people died because they had no arms or legs. Without hands they couldn't eat. They all died out of hunger... (LOL) My brother had the farm. The cool thing about it was, that when you open the door from the set you could hear the sound of a cow. No batteries needed.

[@spectorcreative1872]

Damn. You got me.